BASKETBALL
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Their teething problems won't disappear overnight, but the new-look Wollongong Hawks are confident of being among the main title contenders as the 2014-15 NBL season wears on.
Wollongong were a worrying 0-5 in pre-season trials against NBL sides, losing by an average of 17.6 points.
On Monday the Hawks signed 2.18-metre giant Luke Nevill as their fifth off-season recruit. The former Melbourne, Perth and Townsville centre is the tallest player in the club's 35-year history.
Nevill will make his Hawks debut in next Friday's season-opening home game against NBL Blitz winners Townsville.
The 28-year-old's signing bolsters a front-court that is still without centre Larry Davidson as he recovers from knee surgery.
Wollongong also hope to have American guard Jahii Carson back on deck at training this week after he missed last weekend's trials against Cairns.
Forward Dave Gruber believes the Hawks will gradually build a winning formula.
"We're not panicking by any means," Gruber said.
"We're excited by the challenge and the group's coming along together.
"We're definitely remaining even-keeled and we're focused on the process of getting better every day."
The Hawks were last on the ladder with a third of the season remaining in 2013-14. They stunned rivals with wins in eight of their final 10 games to reach the semi-finals for the third time in the past five years.
"You never like to lose games, but we've had similar pre-seasons in the past and then had good results during the season," Gruber said.
"We've got a strong line-up on paper, but sometimes it takes a little longer with the style that we play because there's a lot of reads. We're committed to getting better and there is progress there.
"Unfortunately we don't have Larry and Jahii so we need those pieces to come back, and when we get our full group together, I think we'll be tough."
Gruber is 20 centimetres shorter than Nevill and remembers how hard he had to work defensively in past battles with his new teammate.
"He's a tough cover for anybody," he said.
" We just need to know how to use him and play with him, get him the ball in spots where he can do something with it and maximise his talent, because he can be great for us."